Early morning update: A spring day

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By Rick Rector | Thursday, March 20, 2008 | 3 comment(s)

Good Thursday, Quad-Cities. At 6 a.m. it’s 33 degrees with fog in the Q-C. Spring sprung today at 12:48 a.m. It’s the vernal (spring) equinox -- that time of year when the sun crosses the earth’s equator, making night and day of approximately equal length all over the earth, according to the National Weather Service. But before you get all set to break out the lawn mower, the NWS reports a chance a snow for Friday.

Tribute to Fred Rogers will include ‘Sweater Day’

Everyone is encouraged to wear a sweater today in honor of children’s public television pioneer Fred Rogers on what would have been his 80th birthday.

Today is being promoted as “Sweater Day”’ to honor Rogers, who died of cancer five years ago. A sweater was his trademark garb on “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.”

David Newell, who played speedy deliveryman Mr. McFeely on the show, appears in a YouTube video that touts the event.

“Sweater Day” is the capstone to a six-day celebration by Family Communications Inc. of Pittsburgh. Rogers created the company to produce his show.

They are out there. We are not alone

The Quad-Cities UFO Meetup will host a video program at 6 p.m. today at Atlantispa, 235 W. 35th St., Davenport. The free program, hosted by David Sereda, explores footage shot by NASA of unidentified flying objects. To register, call (563) 445-7331 or visit meetup.com.

Today’s NWS forecast

It will be mostly cloudy today with a high near 51 degrees. Tonight will bring a chance of rain, then rain likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1 a.m. with a low around 34 degrees. The chance of precipitation is 70 percent with new rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Our Rising Rivers

To keep track of local river levels, CLICK HERE.

And don’t forget to follow day four of online editor James T. Gale’s week-long journey observing area rivers and witnessing firsthand what could be in store for the Quad-Cities this flood season. Today he checks out the Wapsipinicon River from the Mississippi River to Independence, Iowa. CLICK HERE.

An eye on the rivers

The Mississippi River continues to rise in the Quad-Cities but so far flood advisories for the Mississippi only have been issued downstream in the Keithsburg, Ill. and Burlington, Iowa, areas.

The Mississippi River at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad-Cities is well below flood stage, but inching up at 9.81 feet at 4 a.m. Flood stage is 15 feet. The river is expected to continue to rise to 10.7 feet by Sunday morning and then fall. Flood warnings for area streams and tributaries continue.

The NWS is saying spring snow melt combined with recent rainfall will prolong the flooding on some area rivers and create additional flooding on lower portions of the Mississippi.

Flood warnings continue for the Iowa, Cedar and Wapsipinicon rivers in eastern Iowa and the Rock River affecting Henry, Whiteside and Rock Island counties in Illinois. And more rain/snow is forecast north of us for Friday.

At 3:30 a.m., the Rock River at Joslin, Ill., was at 12.81 feet. Flood stage is 12 feet. Minor flooding is occurring. The forecast is for the river to remain near 12.8 feet into early next week. Water is affecting low-lying areas, some summer cottages and Lundeen’s Landing campground.

At 3:30 a.m., the Rock at Moline has dipped below flood stage at 11.97 feet. Flood stage in Moline is 12 feet. Minor flooding is forecast. The Rock will linger near flood stage through Saturday then begin falling. Water is affecting residents near the 27th Street bridge in Moline.

At 3 a.m., the Wapsipinicon River in DeWitt is 12 feet and causing moderate flooding. Flood stage is 11 feet. The Wapsi is expected to rise to near 12.3 feet by Saturday afternoon and then begin falling. Additional rises are possible. At 12 feet, overland flooding occurs with water affecting residences along the river between Wheatland and Calamus and businesses along the river near Calamus. Homes along old U.S. 61, county road E63 north of the river near Toronto and the lowest roads in Buena Vista also are affected.

At 4 a.m., the Cedar River near Conesville, Iowa, was above flood stage at 14.94 feet. Flood stage is 13 feet. Minor flooding is occurring. The Cedar is expected to continue to rise to near 15 feet by Thursday evening and fall below flood stage Sunday afternoon. Water is affecting Edgewater Road in Conesville, yards and access roads of residences along Iowa Highway 22, lowest sections of campgrounds just north of I-80 along the river, the lowest sections of Jack Shuger Memorial Park in Moscow and 152nd Street north of County Road F70. Saulsbury Road, Lindle, Keokuk and Elder avenues and Hoot Owl Junction are also affected by the high water.

At 4 a.m., the Iowa River at Columbus Junction, Iowa, was at 20.45 feet with minor flooding forecast. Flood stage is 19 feet. The river is expected to continue to rise to near 21 feet by early Friday morning. The river will fall below flood stage on Monday.

At 4 a.m., the Iowa River in Wapello, Iowa, was at 21.65. Flood stage in Wapello is 20 feet. Minor flooding is occurring and moderate flooding is forecast. The River will continue to rise to near 22.9 feet by Friday afternoon and then begin falling. Water will affect residences near the U.S. 61 bridge.

Check out flight times

Flying? CLICK HERE to check flight status, wait times and more for regional airports, including the Quad-City International Airport in Moline and O’Hare International Airport in Chicago.

See news happening? Share it

Stuck in traffic? See an accident or fire on your way to work? Drop us an e-mail at newsroom@qctimes.com or give us a call at (563) 383-2235 if you see breaking news such as house fires, traffic accidents and road conditions, street closures/detours and water main breaks in the Quad-City region.

Road work

Here is a partial list of road construction work in your area. CLICK HERE to view the complete list.

Davenport

— 67th Street between Eastern Avenue and Jersey Ridge Road closed indefinitely because of excessive mud.

Moline

— North Shore Drive closed between 16th and 26th streets.

— South Shore Drive closed east and west of 27th Street.

— 60th Street closed south of Green Valley Park.

— North Shore Drive closed between 48th Avenue and Interstate 74.

— Avenue of the Cities will be closed between 27th to 34th streets for a sewer and road construction project. Traffic will use 12th Avenue detour.

Rock Island

— Blackhawk Road (Illinois 5) road reconstruction project affects the area between 24th to 38th streets. Although the road will remain open during the project, drivers should expect delays and should be alert for flaggers who will be directing traffic past the various works operations.

Henry County

— Osco Road from Illinois 81 to U.S. 6 until May 1. Max gross vehicular weight is 10 tons. All permit loads prohibited. Slow down and watch for heavy congestion in the construction area. Use alternate routes when possible.

— Grange Road from Geneseo to Illinois 92 until May 1. Max gross vehicular weight is 10 tons. All permit loads prohibited. Slow down and watch for heavy congestion in the construction area. Use alternate routes when possible.

— Illinois 82 from the Green River to 2.8 miles north of U.S. 6 until June 1. Traffic will be restricted to one lane and controlled by temporary traffic signals. Oversize loads restricted 15 feet wide.

— Cleveland Road 250 feet east of Illinois 84 beginning March 31 until April 4. Both lanes closed for crossing repair. Watch for heavy congestion in the construction area. Use alternate routes when possible.

Mercer County

— Illinois 94 from 1.9 miles north of Illinois 17 to Edwards River until Oct. 17. Traffic will be restricted to one lane and controlled by temporary traffic signals. Oversize loads restricted to max width of 10 feet 6 inches. Expect delays.

Rock Island County

— Illinois 5 at Illinois 84 until Nov. 15. Traffic restricted to one lane in each direction as each half of the bridge is removed and replaced. Drivers are strongly urged to use extreme caution when driving through construction areas. Slow down and watch for workers.

Whiteside County

— Freeport Road from Sterling to Pilgrim Road until May 1. Northbound and southbound lanes closed at times. Traffic reduced to a maximum weight of 11 tons.

— Garden Plain Road from Illinois 84 to U.S. 30 until May 1. Westbound lane closed. Traffic restricted to a maximum weight of 5 tons per axle.

Muscatine County

— U.S. 61 will be reduced to one lane in both directions with a 12 feet width limit in both directions at Muscatine County Road G28 for bridge construction until Nov. 26.

Plot a pothole

Had your teeth rattled by a car-eating pothole? First, call the city where the pothole is located. Here are the phone numbers: Davenport: 326-7923; Bettendorf: 344-4088; Moline: 797-0425; Rock Island: 732-2200; East Moline: 752-1573. Second, go online CLICK HERE and add it to our pothole map. Find out where the worst potholes are in the Quad-Cities